Metal-button-cleaning shield



(Nuo Modll) v `T. H. AMBROSE. METAL BUTTON CLEANING SHIELD.

No. 582,572. Patented May 11, 1897. ii-5f.. l-

'me 'wams PETERS co, PnoToAumo., wAsHmoroN. D, c.

THOMAS H. AMBROSE, OF WINOHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

METAL-BUTTQN-CLEANING SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,572, dated May 11,1897.

Application iiletl February l2, 1897. Serial No. 623,137. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. AMBROSE, acitizen of the United States,residing at Vinchester, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetal-Button- Cleaning Shields, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view of myimproved cleaningshield, illustrating the manner in which it is appliedto a metal button on a coat to protect the cloth While cleaning orpolishing the button. Fig. 2 is a plan of the shield with the .twomembers closed together in the position which they occupy when theshield is in use. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the shield open to permit ofits being slipped over the neck of the button. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on theline 5 5 of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and '7 are plans of the two members orhalves of the shield detached from each other.

My invention has for it-s object to improve the construction of shieldsfor protecting uniforms while cleaning or polishing the metal buttonsthereof; and to this endmy invention consists in a shield composed oftwo segmental members pivoted together at or near the center of theshield and provided with handles whereby they may be partially rotatedin opposite directions against the resistance of a spring to form aradial opening through which the neck of the button can pass to anopening at the center of the shield, the two members being afterwardtightly closed together by the spring to prevent the powder or cleaningmaterial used in polishing or cleaning the button from coming intocontact with the cloth beneath, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the said drawings, Arepresents my improved shield,which is composedof two parts or members b c, preferably of segmental or approximatelysemicircular form, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These two members are eachprovided at the bottom with a handle d and at a point near the center ofthe inner edge with a lug or projection e, having an aperture lO,through which passes a pin f, Figs. 2 and 3, by means of which the twomembers are pivoted together so that they can be partially rotated inopposite directions by pressing the handles d d together with the thumband finger against the resistance of a light spiral spring g, placedbetween them, said spring g serving to normally hold the two membersclosely together, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The members b care eachprovided with a notch located near the lug e, said notches forming acentral opening l5 for the reception of the neck of a metal button 20when the shield is placed around the same, as shown in Fig. l.

Each of the members b c is preferably oomposed of an inner plate h andtwo outer plates i t, soldered or otherwise suitably secured together,as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The inner plate t of the member b projectsbeyond the edges of the outer plates t' e' on one side, forming a narrowtongue 7e above the pivot f and a sector-shaped tongue m below saidpivot. These tongues fit within corresponding spaces p q between theouter plates of the opposite member c, the inner plate t being cut awayfor this purpose and the space q being sufciently large to permit thetongue m to move freely therein when the two members are oscillated ontheir pivot, and in this manner perfectly tight joints are formed whicheffectually prevent the polishing powder or paste used in cleaning thebutton from passing through the shield into contact with and soiling orinjuring the cloth beneath.

In placing the shield around a button it is held by the handles d dbetween the thumb and finger. Pressure is then applied to force the twohandles toward each other against the resistance of the spring g, asshown in Fig. 3, which oscillates the two members b c, separating themabove the pivot f and forming a radial opening r, as shown in Fig. 3,when the shield can be slipped over the button-neck until the latterenters the central opening l5.

The handles d are then released, when the ICO by pressure on the handlesd d and removed from the button to be again used on another button inthe same manner as before.

That I Claim as my invention, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent,is*- 1. A metal-button-eleanin g shield composed of two membersconnected by a pivot located at or near the Center of the shield andnormally closed together by a spring, said members being provided withhandles by which they may be partially rotated in opposite directions onsaid pivot to open a radial spaee between them from the periphery of theshield to an opening at its center for the passage of the neel; of thebutton to said eentral opening, substantially as described.

2. In a metal-button-eleaning shield, the combination of the twosegmental members pivoted together at or near the center of the shieldand each provided with a handle and 2o having a notch, forming when saidmembers are elosed together, a central opening for the reception of theneel; of the button, said members being normally closed by a spring andbeing eaeh Composed of an inner plate and two outer plates, the innerplate of one member projecting beyond its outer plates on one side,forming tongues iitting corresponding spaces between the outer platesol' the other member to form tight joints when said members are closedtogether around the neek of the button, substantially as described.

\Vitness my han d this 10th day ol' February, A. D. lSW.

THOMAS Il. AMBROSE. In presence of- I. E. 'l`EsoHmIAenER, B. L. HARDEN.

